DENR cadastral survey almost complete

MANILA, Philippines - The cadastral survey of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources  (DENR) is almost 90 percent complete, an official said yesterday.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said the Land Management Bureau (LMB) reported on Wednesday that it has completed the cadastral survey of 1,419 cities and municipalities covering 28.8 million hectares, or 86.84 percent of the total 1,634 cities and towns under the DENR’s administrative jurisdiction.

LMB records showed that between 1913 when the Cadastral Act under Commonwealth Act 2259 was enacted, and 2009, only 753 cities and municipalities covering some 14 million hectares were surveyed.

He said the DENR also aims to issue some 61,000 patents for residential, commercial and industrial lands and 56,000 others for agricultural lands under the Cadastral Survey and Land Management Program.

A cadastral survey determines the administrative boundary of a city or a municipality and its component barangays, including the boundary lots in alienable and disposable lands of the public domain for purposes of land titling.

“Cadastral survey is essential to efficient patent distribution and in accelerating countryside development,” Paje said.

He said the cadastral survey would also determine the country’s total land area.